(PressTV) – North Mogadishu is the scene of heavy fighting after an attack on an Ethiopian Woyanne military convoy killed three soldiers and injured nine.
The fighting broke out between Pasta and Heyle Barrise bases on Friday, after insurgents waiting in ambush targeted a group of Ethiopian Woyanne troops with bazookas and automatic weapons.
The two sides engaged in a mortar and artillery fire exchange afterwards, which destroyed civilian positions in the north of the Somali capital, Press TV correspondent in Baidoa reported.
The number of casualties or scope of destructions could not be immediately estimated due to the heavy fire.
Heavy clashes have been also reported in Hodon district in southern Mogadishu.
Conflict between insurgents and Ethiopian Woyanne-backed government forces in Somalia killed 6,501 civilians in the capital Mogadishu in 2007 and wounded 8,516 more, according a local human rights group.
LONDON, Jan. 25 — White Nile Ltd. will explore and develop a 29,000-sq-km block on the southern Rift basin in southwestern Ethiopia under a production-sharing agreement signed with that country. Seismic data collection will start in the fourth quarter.
White Nile has secured sole exploration, development, and production petroleum rights in the contract area in return for satisfying various development commitments. Exploration will proceed for 4 years initially with a development and production period of 25 years once a development plan is implemented. It has budgeted at least $6 million for seismic data and $8 million for drilling operations.
White Nile described its block as prospective following a 2-year joint study that concluded its acreage sits at an intersection between a southeastern extension of the petroliferous Cretaceous and early Tertiary basins of southern Sudan, in particular the Muglad rift system and the younger East African rift system, on which Tullow Oil PLC recently discovered oil.
MEKELE, TIGRAY (ENA) – Sheik Mohamed Hussein Al Amoudi, the renowned businessman operating in Ethiopia, and the Tigray State Administration signed an accord on Thursday that enable the former to launch various investment projects in the state.
Signing the agreement, the owner of sister companies of MIDROC-Ethiopia, vowed to launch various investment projects in the region particularly in mining, leather, and leather products development sectors.
The investment projects due to be launched in the state include, among others, establishment of glass, sugar, and soft drinks manufacturing factories.
The renowned tycoon held discussions with senior officials of the regional government in order to share ideas on trade and investment options that exist in the region.
Chief of the state administration, Tsegaye Berhe said on the occasion the regional government will provide the necessary assistance to the businessman and it is ready to work together with the tycoon.
The regional administration granted 3,000 sq. meter of land to the tycoon meant for the construction of a residence. A street leading to the investment site of the Mekele town was also named after Sheik Mohamed Hussein Al Amoudi.
The chief inaugurated same day a billboard that shows the photograph of Sheik Mohamed Hussein Al Amoudi, as development hero of the town.
Meanwhile, the Tigray State Administration awarded Sheik Mohamed Hussein Al Amuodi the ‘highest martyr’s medal’ for his exemplary deeds in expanding trade and investment in the state.
The tycoon also received a special document containing the signatures of 3,000 women and youth as a gesture for his contributions in development endeavors.
The tycoon pledged on the occasion to donate 50 million Birr in support of the construction of a stadium in the town. He also pledged to re-construct a road that connects Enticho town of Tigray with a locality in North Wollo Zone of the Amhara State, which is said to be the birthplace of the tycoon’s mother.
Tesfaye obtained a Bachelor Degree in fine Arts from Addis Ababa University of Fine Arts in 1998. While a student Tesfaye moved into the adherence of African Abstract art. His many shows in Ethiopia attracted crowds of young Ethiopians, famous painters as well as foreign diplomats and business people, says his press kit. Eight years later, Tesfaye is an artist of reputation, exhibiting at more than 30 shows in Ethiopia and the USA.
“I think I am born for art. I believe art is for the spirit. Through my art, I reconnect the bridges between traditional and modern African elements. I use the rhythms of nature like the whistling wind, musical dancing, swaying grass, galloping horse and the rainbow as a major source of inspiration.”
Tesfaye will be at the Multicultural Center to open his exhibit on Sat, Feb 2, 2008 at 2 pm. The exhibit will run through Feb 23.
UN News Centre – Warning that the continuing military build-up by Ethiopia and Eritrea in their border areas, where the two countries fought a deadly two-year war that ended in 2000, creates the risk of reigniting hostilities, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is urging the neighbouring States to urgently de-escalate the situation.
Ethiopia and Eritrea should end their exchange of hostile statements, return to December 2004 levels of deployment in the border areas and provide the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) with the necessary assistance, support and protection so that it can fulfil its mandate, Mr. Ban says in his latest report to the Security Council on the work of the mission.
He writes that Eritrea must also immediately withdraw all troops and heavy military equipment from the Temporary Security Zone (TSZ) and reverse all restrictions on the movement and operations of UNMEE, including fuel supplies, which were stopped at the start of last month.
“I am seriously concerned that, if not resolved immediately, the stoppage of fuel supplies since 1 December 2007 will completely immobilize the Mission operations in the coming few weeks,” the Secretary-General says, noting that UNMEE would have to relocate staff and equipment.
The restrictions have become so crippling that Mr. Ban says they require a Council decision on UNMEE’s future, and he recommends that the mission’s mandate have a one-month technical rollover while the latest developments are monitored and assessed.
He encourages the two nations to resume the meetings of the Military Coordination Commission – there has been no such gathering since mid-2006 – as a way of developing confidence-building measures, such as mine clearance and ensuring humanitarian assistance reaches those in need.
As part of the recognition of African American History Month, the